Medicinal preparation



Patented May 14, 1935* UNITED ,"STATES,

, IEEDICINAL PREPARATION William E. Welch, Dayton, Ohio, lllllllll' toB. J.

Baker 8r Company, Inc.,

Boston, Man. a corporation of hnsetts, and International Proprietaries'Incorporated. Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware g No Drawing.Application February 1d,- 19,

Serial N0. 711,035 I 3Clalms.

m invention relates to a medicinal preparaon. v

The object of the invention is to provide a novel medicinal preparationfor use as a beneficial penetrant and inhalant in the treatment ofcolds, congestion in the chest and throat, and for affording relief tomany mild pains, such as those produced by neuralgia and strains, andthe present preparation is characterized by its solid stainless formwhich facilitates the application and use thereof, and by the potency,and lasting qualitiw of its odor and vapor, enabling more beneficialeffects to be obtained than with other preparations of this generalcharacter of which I am aware.

With this general object in view, and such others as may hereinafterappear, the invention consists in the medicinal preparation hereinafterpreparation objectionable in some instances because of the grease andthe stains left on theclothing or bedding coming in contact with theapplied preparation. In order to satisfactorily employ such preparationsas inhalants for the treatment of inflammation in the respiratorypassages, the application of heat to the preparation has been prescribedin order to release the de sired vapors to obtain the best relief.

The present invention contemplates a medicina1 preparation for use inthe treatment of colds and congestion inthe chest and throat by externalapplication and also which maybe used as a successful inhalant in thetreatment of inflammation in the respiratory passages without thenecessity of the application of heat'to effect satisfactory release ofthe necessary amounts of vapors fromthe counter-irritants and essentialoils embodied in the preparation. g

I'have found that ,a most satisfactory base in whichthecounter-irritants and essential oils may.

be embodied comprises an alcoholic solution of a ,soap. This base hasbeenfound to increase by many times the potency of the vapors from theessential .oils and from the counter -irritants as well as the pungencythereof, and in addition appears to actas a fixativefor the odors andvapors from the essential oils and counter-irritants, therebyeflectively main the preparation after application in efficient vaporemitting conditionfor far greater periods of time than comparativepreparations in which a petrolatum base well as other essential oils andalcoholic solutions of other soaps.

Menthol 4: parts by weight Camphor 8 parts by weight 011 of turpentine 4parts by volume 011 of eucalyptus I 2 parts by volume Oil of thyme(white) 1 part by volume Alcohol 78.5 parts by volume Stearic acid. 4.87parts by weight Sodium hydroxide 1.1 parts by weight Amber dye solution2.5 parts by volume Inaccordance with the preferred process, the 4.87parts by weight of stearlc acid are dissolved 11162.8 parts of alcohol,the latter representing 80% of the total amount of alcohol to be used inthe completed-product. 1.1 parts by weight of sodium hydroxide are thendissolved in 15.? parts by volume ofalcohol, the latter representing 20%of the total amount of alcohol to be contained in the product. Thestearlc acid solution and the sodium hydroxide solution are thenseparately warmed to approximately 60 C. and then mixed together. Duringthe digestion of the mixture of the stearic acid solution and the sodiumhydroxide solution and the formation of a soap,

the camphor, menthol, the oil of turpentine, the.

oil of eucalyptus, the oil of thyme, and the dye The present medicinalpreparation produced as above. described and embodying the amber dye andis characterized by the potent odor .of the counter-irritants andessential oils embodied therein. In the treatment of colds andcongestion in the throat and chest the preparation is appliedexternally, and when rubbed on the skin the contacting portions of thecake liquify under the heat of the body, enabling very efiicientapplication of an alcoholic solution of the ingredients to be applied.Because of the fact that the ingredients are readily soluble in thealcohol, an even distribution of the ingredients is obtained throughoutthe alcoholic solution, and as a result upon application a very evendistribution of the ingredients over the surface of the skin isobtained. The alcohol produces a beneficial eifect upon the surface ofthe skin, contributing to the ease and efilciency with which thecounter-irritants are enabled to penetrate into the skin, and as aresult a characteristic sensation of cooling followed by a slightfeeling of warmth and a flushing of the skin is experienced by thepatient. As a result most efiicient counter-irritation is produced,setting up nervous reflexes from the skin and producing beneficialresults to the patient in relieving the cold and congestion.

One advantage of the present preparation resides in the fact that it maybe applied without liability of staining the bedding or clothing withwhich it may come in contact, and in addition its application is muchmore pleasing than the application of the greasy petrolatum basepreparations heretofore used. In addition, after application the thinfilm covering the skin is practically invisible, thus enabling thepreparation to be conveniently applied to the forehead and other partsof the face and neck during business hours and without embarrassment tothe patient.

When used as an inhalant the present preparation may be either applieddirectly to a portion of the body or may be applied to a handkerchief orpillow without any liability of soiling, andthe character of theingredients of the present preparation contributes greatly to theefllciency of the material both as an inhalant and as a penetrant.Experience has shown that the present preparation possesses the propertyof holding the vapors and odors of the essential oils and of thecounter-irritants for several times as long as prior comparativepreparations, utilizing the petrolatumbase, and I attribute this resultto the action of the alcoholic solution of soap acting as a fixative forthe counter-irritantsand essential oils. As a result, after applicationthe patient is exposed to the fumes from the preparation for arelatively long period of time, so that exceedingly beneficial resultshave been obtained. In addition to the lasting properties of thepreparation,

the alcoholic soap solution contributes to the potency of the vaporsgiven ofi, and comparative tests have shown that the potency is severaltimes that of comparative prior preparations embodying a petrolatumbase. I attribute this result to the action of the alcohol in completelydissolving the 2,001,048 solution resembles a cake or stick of solidvaseline.

counter-irritants and essential oils and the vapors of the alcohol alongwith the vapors of the counter-irritantsand essential oils produces anextremely potent odor and vapor which appears to have very beneficialresults intthe treatment of colds exceeding those attained usingcomparative amounts of these ingredients in a petrolatum base, theeffect of the latter base tending to retard the vaporizing eifect of theingredients.

In addition to the use of the present preparation as an effective ruband penetrant, and in addition to its use as an inhalant alone or as acombined inhalant and rub, the present preparation possessescharacteristics which render its use valuable as a liniment in thetreatment of mild pains such as neuralgia and in the treatment ofsprains and the like,.and upon application and rubbing into the affectedpart, the alcoholic solution of the counter-irritants and essential oilspenetrates well and offers substantial relief to the ailment.

While it is preferred to produce a medicinal preparation embodyingmenthol and camphor and the essential oils. is is to be understood thatnot only may the foregoing proportions be varied, but also forsomepurposes the essential oils may be omitted and also either the mentholor the camphor may be omitted, producing preparations having substantialutility in the treatment of colds, congestion in the chest and throat,and for affording relief to many mild pains. I

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has. been hereinillustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention maybe embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. A medicinal preparation for application to the skin as a penetrantand also for use as an inhalant, comprising an alcoholic solution of asoap in solidified form having dissolved therein a counter-irritant andmenthol, and capable of liquification upon application to the skin underthe influence of body heat to thereby deposit thereon a film.

2. A medicinal preparation for application to the skin as a penetrantand also useful as an inhalant comprising an alcoholic solution of asoap in solidified form having dissolved therein camphor, menthol, oilof turpentine, oil of eucalyptus and oil of thyme, and capable ofliquification upon application to the skin under the infiuence of bodyheat to thereby deposit thereon a 3. A medicinal preparation forapplication to the skin as a penetrant and also useful as an inhalant,said preparation comprising an alcoholic solution of a soap insolidified form having dissolved therein an inhalant and acounter-irritant, said base possessing fixative properties for retardingrapid dissipation of the vapors emitted therefrom.

WILLIAM E. WELCH.

